Employee refuses to work at other location

I have an empoyee who refuses to work at our other branch location. He claims that it creates him an undue hardship since his child attends daycare near his usual branch. The two branches are about 10 miles apart. He always rails on about the cost and are we going to pay him for the daycare because he has to pay whether the child attends or not.

He is just an alright employee, and has volunteered to work at the other location on days when his child does not attend daycare. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Ask him if he needs daycare because he is being a baby. 10 miles? I drive 38 miles to work each way, and that isn't the longest commute others have.

10 miles? that is like 15-20 minutes if there is no highway? Someone needs to call the whaaaaaaaaaaaaambulence.

Unless you have a state law addressing it there is no requirement that I'm aware of that you have to accommodate his daycare arrangements. In fact it's his responsibility to arrange daycare to accommodate his work schedule.

If we needed this person at another branch and he refused for the reasons stated we most likely would accommodate him the first time with the understanding in the future he will have to make daycare arrangements to accommodate his work schedule. The next time he refused he would no longer be working here.

However I would advise to make sure what applies to him applies to everyone. IOWs don't accommodate someone else while refusing to accommodate him.

agree with Dan, he needs to work where teh job states or seek employment elsewhere

"We're not a social service organization, we have business decisions to make and customers to support. If we are unable to do that, we will have to make other arrangements - unfortunately, you will not be part of those arrangements."

I am fortunate enough to work with a group of people that bend over backward to help me with daycare and work arrangements. That does not mean, however, that I take advantage of their understanding or that I expect my schedule and job requirements to be based on the fact that I have a child. I have taken my daughter to daycare an hour early and had my neighbor pick her up so I could fill in at a branch 45 minutes away. It's called a job, Sir, and if you accept the paycheck you accept the terms.

Time-wise, how long is the drive?

The normal commute is 20 minutes from house to the daycare and then 5 minutes to work.

The commute to other location would be 20 minutes to daycare - 20 minutes to other branch.

I don't understand how working 15 minutes further from the daycare puts him in the status that he can not work at the other location. What is his explaination?

If the hours are the same at each location, it seems one solution may be to allow him to come in 15 minutes late, and leave 15 minutes early, if he absolutely can not drop off and pick up his child those 15 minutes earlier or later (which I doubt).

I don't understand why this employee is being accommodated to this extent. Since when does the employee dictate to the supervisor when and where he/she will work? I think it's time to develop a stronger backbone.

My commute is about 2 hours roundtrip each day and I have paid to put two children in daycare. I would never dream of complaining to my employer about this and my employer would not want to hear about it.

The really big problem this creates is when other employees start requesting extra consideration in both similar and dis-similar circumstances -
Whatever decision you make is the precedent that will be referred to

I walked into a bad situation where the employee was being accomodated all the time. I was just looking for people's opinions.

Dontcha just love it? Congrats on your new responsibilities! This is a great resource for you!

Years ago when I was pregnant with my son a platform rep at another branch was also pregnant. Our branch had specific designated floaters (which I was not). There were a number of times that I came into work and was told that I needed to fill in for the other pregnant employee because she did not come in. It was about a 5 block walk. I was annoyed because there were times (vacation, doctor) that they knew she was going to be out but still did not think to let me know ahead of time. I finally told them one icy morning when they wanted me to go over that (1) I was not the designated floater; (2) she did not come in because of the weather but I was also pregnant and managed to make it in and (3) if I slipped and fell on the ice and anything happened to my baby I would sue them. I worked for a bunch of disorganized a**holes at that branch and couldn't wait to get out. They actually criticized me in my review saying I did not get loan documents done and left them for others to do. I explained to them that we did not type up the loan documents until the day the person was coming in to sign. I always came in a little early and typed them up before the branch opened. The days I didn't get them done was because they shipped me to the other branch without any warning!

I think everyone at some point in their working careers will have challenges outside of work that impact their ability to make it to work timely, or may need to leave early, etc. I've only worked for one boss who would not accomodate any type of request concerning coming in late or leaving early, and I learned how to get around that.

I don't see how an extra 15 minutes commute would negatively impact an employee.

Generally I am on board with everyone here, but My question is what time does he get done working his normal branch?

I ask because several daycare centers charge you by the minute (usually a dollar per) for each minute you are late picking up your child... if he is currently just squeaking in before they close the way it is (or could be cutting to close to closing by working the other branch)... I can see how an extra 15-20 minutes is a hardship... for accommodating you, he may now have lost 2-3 hours of net pay potentially. Some people have great backup resources (family, neighbors, etc), and others are not that fortunate.

I think it is telling that on the days where daycare is not needed, he is volunteering to assist where needed. Also, if you have to staff the branch so often with help from another, maybe your bigger problem is not your ho-hum teller.

There are also some daycares that charge an extra fee for the child being at the daycare for maor than a certain number of hours. State law in some places dictates that the daycare is supposed to discourage children from attending more than a certain number of hours. In Tennessee, that number is 10 hours a day.

When I worked in a nearby city (30 minute commute on a good day each way) and had to be at work from 8-5, I was pushing the 10 hr mark everyday. When I went over I got charged an additional $5 per occurance per child, plus any overtime charges($5 per every 15 minutes per child) if I didn't get there by 6 pm. And I had 2 kids in daycare at the time. Not fun when there was a big wreck or something backing up traffic......

If the employee's daycare hours conflict with his work schedule, sounds like he needs to find other childcare or another profession. I just don't see how an employee's childcare situation is the employer's problem.

I will say again that I have had two children in daycare for basically all of their lives.

You took (all) the words right out of my mouth.

Most of the daycare or after school programs around here close at 6:00 and charge extra (average is $1 for 5 minutes or $5 for 15 minutes beyond that timeframe. Don't forget some of these places open at 6:00 AM to accomodate early workers so it is a long day for them too. Most are reluctant to stay beyond closing and will ask chronic offenders to make other arrangements for their child(ren).

I really do not see how this employee can say no he will not go to another branch - no matter the reason! I do not have children in daycare now but when I did and I had a problem with picking them up or dropping them off, my employer was not aware of it. I never wanted my personal life to be an issue that could be used to deny me, say a promotion because I could not handle my private affairs.

Is he actually in a "float" position? If that is his job, then refusing to perform his job is insubordination and you would be justified in taking corrective action.

However, if he is not a "float" position and travel between branches wasn't specified in his job description, you'd have a harder time enforcing it.

When I worked in the branches I often volunteered to help out in other locations when needed. However, sometimes I really couldn't go to a different location, even if the distance seemed short to other people. It got to the point where when I was asked and turned them down, my boss was very unhappy and made it known. I brought up the fact that: a) I was not in a "float" position, b) although I consistently volunteered to help, it wasn't always feasible; and c) I was going to graduate school at night, which was a short drive from my regular branch. Going to a different location, even though it might be 10 miles away, changed my commute to school. I then had to drive 20 miles to class and rush hour traffic was horrendous in our area. The added 10 miles would make me late for class. No, thanks.

Later, an actual "float manager" position was created and, since I was done with classes and only had my thesis left, I took that job. At that point I had no say on where I would and wouldn't go work. But that was my specific position. I could be assigned to a branch 45 miles away from home (which I often was) and also sometimes had to change branch locations during the day on a moment's notice.

If it is a daycare issue, why can't the employee just leave the other branch 15 minutes earlier and consider the extra travel time part of the work day? Here if a teller is sent to cover another branch, they normally return to their home branch in time to leave at their regularly scheduled time. Not sure of the situation though, so that may not be a possibility.

It seems as though many people here are heartless and feel that work should be the first priority. Whatever happened to "work / life balance?" Don't you have families? Each of my employers (past and present) have understood the requirements of personal life and allowed me to work around them (kids, school, Dr. appointments, emergencies, etc.). As a manager I try to give my employees the flexibility to accommodate personal and business needs. Sometimes that means I help out too. This dilemma sounds petty.

There is some information missing that can change the situation. If the employee isn't considered a floater, why is he being expected to go to a different location as often as this sounds like he is? I know I would be very inconvenienced if I was expected to start working at a location other than the one I was hired at.

The overage fees charged by daycares has already been mentioned, as has the fact that he has agreed to work on days when he doesn't have to worry about daycare. Letting him leave early to deal with the daycare should be soemthing that's considered, and maybe getting more info as to why it's such a problem for him.

This was exactly my point. Except I wrote a whole book about it. Your response is much more concise.

I had a boss years ago that was great - except for child care/illness issues. He did not have children at the time and couldn't relate. Once his son was born he was then the perfect boss

I would think the line in the job description "any other duties as required" would cover his "i don't have to work there"...

I don't agree that people here are heartless and don't care about family. I just feel that it's important to keep your homelife and work seperate. It's great when your boss can accommodate your personal needs. Morale goes up. Productivity goes up. Everyone is happy. But sometimes people's personal needs as far as arrival and departure times cannot be accommodated and I don't think that makes a boss an orge. Our employers pay us to perform a function and sometimes that means we have to be in a certain place during certain hours. I think it's unprofessional to complain about my childcare situation/costs to my employer.

This does seem to be a petty issue with long legs.

I ran into this many years ago, with employees refusing to help at a location just minutes/miles down the road. They forgot they were hired to work at the bank, not a specific location. We made accomodations as needed however made sure it was in writing that hirees understood this and it was expected to adequately staff a location. Problem solved (after a few people left)

The affected employees can/should be compensated for the difference in mileage. It is a fine line between where their original location was and where the employer wants to move them, but if there is not a mutual agreement, then both lose.

I worked 8 to 5 plus overtime in a bank operations department while raising 2 kids alone. I started when they were ages 3 and 6 years old, and with no other family members in the state. I learned quickly that any adjustments had to be made at home and not at work. It was not fair to my peers that were either young with no kids, or older and whose kids were already raised to have to help with my work. Work that I was getting paid to do, not them. It was my responsibility to have a backup plan. I try to be flexable with the parents working for me, but not if it becomes unfair to the other staff members.

This is one reason why I make it clear to all new employees that they are hired to work for the bank and not a specific branch. I would try to work with the employee's request, if it were possible, but if not, tough cookies. I would be careful giving special treatment in this case because you might find more people expecting the same kind of treament.

and there will always be people that abuse it and the chronic complainers that see injustice (to them) in everything! You see the same thing when the weather turns bad. some people will not make it in no matter what (we actually had an employee miss work because she was snowed in. she lived in a ground floor apartment and the snow blew up against her front door so she couldn't open it. Myself - I would have climbed out the window and shoveled the snow away from the door. she also didn't shovel because she felt it was the landlord's responsibility. Of the people that did make it in, a lot of them complained that they should be given something extra for making it in. After a while I got tired of hearing it and told a few of them that (1) they were paid to work and (2) if they did anything for us that would be nice, but I wasn't expecting anything.

I love the snowstorm issue. I do not live in the same town I work in, so if I do not make it to work because of snow I either take without pay or use PTO. I agree I hate using my PTO for snow days, but not employers fault I live out of town either. Also, upper management leaves it up to my discretion on when I leave or come in late due to weather.

i live 60 miles from my office...i've made it in hurricanes, floods, snow, heat, etc. i figure if i can make it, no one has an excuse for not coming in...

people who live 3 miles from here called in when we had 8 inches of snow...boy, did i give them grief

But do those people live up on a high ridge with an ice-covered 5% grade downhill road with no direct access to a main road while you live on a salted flat road with direct access to a main road?

Just playing devil's advocate.....everyone has different circumstances. I know how to drive on snow and on ice, but I live on a ridge with a very steep road that did not get salted for 3 days after we had 7-8 inches of snow. First day we were closed, second day I was not risking my life to review cash reports and loan documents, the third day I hiked down the ridge and had someone pick me up.

Point is, everyone has to make a decision to stay home or go to work. The bank should have a policy and employees should make those decisions based on that policy and their tolerance for using PTO or going withou pay. It really irks me when people make comments about how they got to work but I didn't when they don't an understanding of the circumstances I was in.

I agree, Dani!

umm, we live in Louisiana...there is no such thing as a mountain here...or even a ridge...

it irks me that people choose to live in a area that possibly floods, or where they have to cross rivers that flood, then complain they can't make it to work because of high water...hey, you chose to live there and you said you'd be at work...don't complain about it. plan ahead and be on the work side of it, and we won't have these issues. same for people that choose to live on mountaintops where it snows...

Happy, I wasn't trying to be ugly. My point is that I made a choice to stay home when it snowed...and I had to use PTO because that's our policy. I didn't complain about it at all. I made an educated decision based on my tolerance of using PTO or not getting paid.

My comment about being irked was in the context of someone judging my motives and my loyalty to my employer because I chose to saty home when it snowed and iced. Honestly I think my employer would find me more valuable to be alive and able to come back in the following day when conditions were better.

People choose to live where they do for different reasons and sometimes they lived there prior to working for a certain employer. Luckily my employer cares about my safety and told me not to risk it if I didn't feel safe getting to work in adverse conditions.

I'm sorry you have had such a bad experience with people making those types of decisions.

i just find it ironic, that's all...

Refusing to work at another location, which is a reasonable distance, is not acceptable. You can pay him the difference in mileage between his regular commute and the assigned location, but that's it. I think he would be hard pressed to show how driving a distance of 10 miles is a hardship...

You should make any accomodation for this employee that you would be willing to have fed back to you when another employee wants an accomodation...

These things feed on themselves.

Those of us in NY at the moment are going through a horrible blizzard. Unlike upstate NY, the Long Island/NYC area is not capable of handling it properly. Those of you who are climbing out of windows, curing cancer and killing dragons all while getting to work on time are super employees. I personally give you a long round of golf clapping.

That said I'm with Dani and not killing myself in an attempt to get to work when my reports and investigations can be delayed a day or two. I've explained this to my employer and after some heated discussions, they have accepted it.

My apologies. This wasn't the proper venue for my comments.

That is incredibly rude.

....

I suggest taking any futher discussion of the last couple of posts to the cooler.

Thanks......

Yes, I made my comment because this was NOT the cooler, a place I do not go and actually don't see when I click on BOL!

My apologies. Occasionally my fingers engage before my brain. I have edited out my commments above.

The way I feel is if the weather is too bad to travel, the Bank will close. We have had some horrible storms up north this year and when they were bad enough we have had delayed openings and closings.

I believe people over-react when it snows, and calling out of work because of snow, when the institution is open and everyone else is there is not appropriate in my mind. Yes, it is snowing, yes you need to leave much earlier and drive to work slower, but if your institution is open, you should be there. When driving safely in snow, it is not "risking your life" to get to work.

Just to play devil's advoate - what if work is open but schools are closed? Some people live closer to work than others - some live in cities where road crews are out immediately - some live in the coutry where the township road crews take a while to get to your lane, road, etc
I think it's a matter of trust - I will believe some folks who tell me the storm was too bad and I won't believe others based on the credibility they have built up with me.
I've come across a couple of accidents in my time caused by snow and ice and I would NEVER require someone to get on unsafe roads.
That's my call
Your boss may feel differently.

Schools closing has no impact on work. If you need to take a day out to watch your kids, then that is your call to use a vacation day.

Under your extreme circumstance, if your street is not plowed, call and let your boss know, as soon as you are plowed out, then head to work.

It's not really in keeping with the original post, but rather I feel the need to comment on Bob's post. I'd like to share my creed...Work to live, not live to work. In all my years of working in banks in the upper Mid-West where we get tons of bad weather every winter, I've only known one of my employers to close once. So I use pto or vacation if necessary and I remind myself, it's only a job.

Some people think that snow is the only issue. It's not. Some areas cannot or will not handle the snow properly. Whether it is due to cost or inexperience is irrelevant. I lived in Albany for over 3 years and saw very heavy storms. However, the city was always well prepared. All types of businesses were usually open, as the city knew how to handle the situation.

Now, I live in Long Island, near Queens. I can assure you that during the most recent storm that wasn't the case. Just because both areas get X amount of snow doesn't mean it's handled the same way. If the roads are clear, you should go into work. That said, if the roads aren't safe and public transportation is shut down, you're better off using a personal/vacation day and trying again tomorrow.

I wouldn’t want my staff getting in a car accident or worse while trying to get to work to handle an item that can most certainly wait until tomorrow. We are bankers, not police or fireman. I would have to seriously question some people’s priorities here.

For what it's worth, I think Truffle summed it up pretty well.

I was one of those employees that came to work no matter what (btw at the time I lived out in no mans land) I was usually 2-3 hours late but made it. Many were amazed. However a few years ago during one of my got to go morning commutes (even though it took me 3 hours to get home the night before when normally it was 30-45 mins) I made my husband take me. Started out 2 hours before scheduled time and hit some black ice and ended up flipping the truck and rolling several times. Luckily we were not hurt. Since that day if "I" don't feel comfortable driving to work in the snow I am not going. If my employer can't understand that I don't want to work there. So don't scoff when I don't come in, been there done that won't do it again. Just my two cents....

Last week we got 22 inches of snow and the road I live on wasn't plowed until 9:30AM (usually the town keeps up with it really good). I called my boss at 8AM explained my situation and the fact that I would get there ASAP (which she totally understood). I ended up getting to work about 2 hours late and everyone was happy to see me. My boss thought we could use personal time to cover the difference but HR said that I wouldn't be paid for the time due to weather not being an excuse for absence. I didn't think that this was fair due to the circumstance and the fact that I have a good attendance record and I am always at work on time or early and sometimes stay late and this was hopefully a one time thing because of a snow storm that our public works dept apparently miscalculated. Does this seem right?

Stay late/arrive early the other days to make up the time.

Cute saying, and yes, that does apply to most when it comes to the amount of hours and travel demands of a job. But showing up to the office when you are supposed to be there? That may be stretching it. You still need to be professional, dedicated, and dependable.

I am in a heavy snow area. I drive a little 4 cylinder commuter car, not some snow monster pick-up, SUV, or AWD vehicle. Driving in the snow is not remotely dangerous as those in this thread have made it out to be if you know how to drive in snow conditions, take the proper precautions, and provide yourself extra time for the commute. There are many arguments that driving in rain is just as or more dangerous than snow, but you will never see someone call out for rain.

If you live in an area that consistently gets a disasterous amount of snow, then you should purchase a vehicle that allows for the appropriate commute.

Can you find yourself in an accident on a day it is snowing -- yes. Can you find yourself in an accident when it rains -- yes. Can you find yourself in an accident on a bright sunny day -- yes.

Many like to blow the aspect of driving in the snow way out of proportion. Driving in the snow can be done safely and responsibly, that is how everyone else makes it to the office. Driving in the snow is unpleasant for most, but don't call it "life endangering" because it is unpleasant.

Bob, you may not mean to but you're starting to sound condescending.

A creed is not a 'cute saying'. That saying serves me well in numerous aspects of my life. I don't just use it as an excuse to skip out on work because there's snow on the ground. I'm one of the most loyal and conscientious employees you'll ever come across.

I regularly plow through many inches of snow and drifts to get to work. And most of the time I managed to find someone to take care of my kids until they were old enough to stay home alone. If you've never had to make arrangements for the kids then I suggest you're limited in your ability to understand others who are confronted with snow days.

Making up time is not always allowed. We have to get permission and have good cause to work ot here. So I can't come in two hours late and make it up later in the week. Again, what works for you, may not work for others so please, cut the rest of us some slack.

Lastly, a couple of people here had honest incidents that cause them to hestitate when bad weather strikes. Relegating a rolled truck to 'driving in snow (being) unpleasant' is really beyond reason.

While I live in Florida now, I grew up in a mid-Atlantic state. The bank where I worked had a snow day policy of "there are no snow days." Unless a supervisor called specifically to notify you the branch was closed - you went into work. And if the branch was closed, you didn't get paid because you didn't work. You couldn't exceed your scheduled hours on other days in order to make up the time, either.

As for snow driving skills - mine where okay, it was the other people on the road next to me that worried me. Plus, no matter the skill level, driving on a thin dusting of snow over old snow that's been packed down into a sheet of ice is dangerous as is hitting black ice. Once you're on ice, physics takes over and you're at the mercy of a combination of mass and trajectory until you can get traction again. We've all seen the news footage of cars sliding helpless on ice, ramming into other cars/houses/trees/poles/etc.

As for buying a big fancy vehicle to drive all year just in case of the few bad snow days each year, well, that was well beyond my reach at the time. Actually, I take that back - it's STILL beyond my reach.

Oh, and as for nobody ever refuses to come in due to rain? Yes, yes we do. It's called a tropical storm or hurricane.

Guess what Bob...

SNOW DAY!!!!

And I do not feel bad about it... I am one of those people that live furthest from the bank, but am usually one of the first ones there each morning... I have that bigger vehicle that plows through the snow, but considering that one cannot tell the difference between between the country roads I take and fields, I am ok with this. If the bank wouldn't have closed today, I think even I would be taking a personal day today... very unusual even for me.

That said, while most of my coworkers will be sleeping in and playing with their kids today, I actually prepared either way, and have brought home plenty of work with me today.

I only wish I could only be as dedicated, loyal and diligent as yourself! Cheers.

As for buying a big fancy vehicle to drive all year just in case of the few bad snow days each year, well, that was well beyond my reach at the time. Actually, I take that back - it's STILL beyond my reach.

As your former employer was so generous with your snow days you should have just asked them to purchase the big fancy vehicle and chip in for gas they could have said yes. "sacrasm font off"

Hee! Exactly! That same bank had late hours on Friday and we worked the late shift every other Friday. On my day to leave at 4:30 Friday, I was told at 4:25pm to work the late shift to cover for someone who was absent. My boyfriend who lived 2 hours away was expecting me at 6:30 and now I wouldn't be arriving until 9:30 at the earliest. This was in the days before cell phones so I called him from the bank phone to let him know I'd be three hours late.

When the phone bill for the branch came two weeks later, there was a big to-do about the $1.49 long distance call on the bill. They made me pay for it out of pocket and let me know that I wouldn't get written up for it - this time but it better not happen ever again. Can you just feel the generosity of spirit?

I'm no longer into bragging rights that said I've made it to work during every single snow storm we've had over the last 17 years. I did that the first 12 years. I even made it here every day during the ice storm of the century - 43 miles each way.

Then my sister passed away in a horrific car accident and I found out that journey and this place is not near as important as some of you make it out to be. Work to live is much more important than live to work.

Credit me with enough sense that if it is an important day then you'll know I'll try to be here come he!! or highwater but if it is everyday work that can wait a day then look for me at home.

Cats post is the one of the reasons I feel so strong about this. It would be one thing if a company actually cared about their employers and took care of them, but that is hardly the case. I haven't been in banking that long, but I have worked at small, medium and very large banks. Every single one of them would have replaced any employee if they could find someone of equal skills, but cheaper.

Sorry, but I'm not risking my neck for that. Also, comparing driving through snow to someone who was in a really bad accident is totally insane.

No it is not insane because I did not compare driving in snow to accident. I explained that it woke me up to what is important in life.

Okie, I think ACBank was referring to Bob the Banker's comment above: "Driving in the snow is unpleasant for most, but don't call it "life endangering" because it is unpleasant."

Yes, I was referring to Bob's comment. In no way was I trying to insult you Okie. I actually agree with your post.

I apologize if my comment came across that way. I assure you, it was not intended too.

I wonder what happened to the employee in the original poster's bank? I don't think cbrown0929 ever came back to tell us.

Sorry that I jumped to the wrong conclusions and thanks for telling me. I appreciate that.

Asking to make-up time was merely a suggestion, and it would not be overtime if you are simply replacing hours you missed, maybe it works maybe it doesn't.

Like I said previously, accidents do happen in snow, but they are just as common in other types of inclimate weather and also occur in perfectly sunny days. I NEVER relegated rolling a tuck to driving in snow is unpleasant, so please do not rearrange statements to conjure up a statement I did not make.

Bob, I'm bettin' you live somewhere flat.

I think it was this paragraph from your post above that gave that impression, especially the part I have highlighted:

Many like to blow the aspect of driving in the snow way out of proportion. Driving in the snow can be done safely and responsibly, that is how everyone else makes it to the office. Driving in the snow is unpleasant for most, but don't call it "life endangering" because it is unpleasant.

Thanks, Cats. That is exactly the part I was referring to.

Okay. There is no referrence to that person's personal story. There were others commenting saying they refuse to risk their life to get to work.

And just some food for thought, a study from the University of California:
"Do the first snows of really winter bring a rash of crashes? Is rain after a long dry spell more dangerous? Our intuitions tell us that the answers to these questions are "yes" and "Yes," but recent research from the University of California at Berkeley adds some very interesting insights into the relationship between these adverse conditions and statistics for crashes.

In a study of more than one million crashes in 48 U.S. states, Researcher Daniel Eisenberg was surprised to find that the more it rained or snowed in a month, the fewer deadly traffic accidents there were. And he found that in any given month, an additional 10 centimeters of rain is linked with a 3.7 percent decrease in the fatal crash rate!"
http://www.drivers.com/article/652/

University of California at Berkeley??? Seriously an authority on snow? Sorry...I had to say it 'cause you know you ALL were thinking it.

fwi: I'd agree that more snow in a month is less likely to produce accidents. A couple of inches at a time is nbd around here. We were talking about snow day snows which means a lot of snow in a short period of time usally compounded by drifting and winds.

It is not the rain that get you but the rain mixed with the oil on the road. At some point in time the oil will wash away explaining the "additional 10 centimeters of rain is linked with a 3.7 percent decrease in the fatal crash rate" . If you visit the "cooler" you will find that there is an explanation for every study and corresponding studies disputing the orignal study.

There is a saying that "Numbers do not lie but liers make numbers".

That said, I make it in to work but I would rather the person who does not know how to drive stay off the streets if they can not dirve in bad weather.

Like all other things, the "risk my life" comments are based on people's actual circumstances and perceptions. Not everyone who made the "risk my life" comments explained their personal circumstances. It is condescending and judgemental to insinuate that those that made the "risk my life" comments don't know have the maturity or ability to determine if their life or safety is at risk based on their personal circumstances.

For instance, I am one of those who will not risk my life to get to work. I live on a ridge and the only way to a main road from my house is down a half-mile long 5+% grade (no bends in the road, think of mountains you have driven that have run-away truck ramps on the side of the road, except my road doesn't have the truck ramp), then on a secondary road with a hairpin curve in it. The only thing on the opposite side of the secondary road at the bottom of my road is a big ditch because the road has no shoulder and then a bunch of very big, thick tree trunks, then if you make it past those tree trunks, there are cows. We DO NOT get a lot of snow where I live very often. We had 8 inches on the road, which then turns to ice, and my county doesn't own a snow plow because our average is less than 1 inch, if any. Only major roads like interstates and major highways get salted, not subdivision or secondary roads. To me this is a dangerous scenario not just an unpleasant one.

Thanks to those that pointed out about the truck rolling. I don't let it get to me, there are some that just don't understand until they have been through it. Fortunately that employer was wonderful to work for - I bent over backwards for them and they bent over backwards for me. They were appalled that I even tried it that day.

Now on another note - try explaining that since all of that snow melted and the gravel roads are complete mud and you are stuck up past the door of the truck and won't be in that day! Ha many didn't believe it until I showed the pics.

Course I now live about a mile from where I work and it would have to be like 10 feet of snow (NOT that I am asking for the snow) for me to call in on a snow day. But of course I am always worried about those that come in from out of town and watch the forcast and suggest they get sent home before it is dark.

And that is the bottom line, isn't it, melmac? Employers who recognize all their employees do not live in the city just miles from work and who make some sort of accomodation for them are the ones I want to work for.

I'm fine with the policy that says my staying home today is pto. I couldn't have gotten out of my driveway even if we got the 3 feet of snow plowed out before noon. The plow trucks didn't hit my subdivision until 1 today.

But for an employer to say come at all costs is just beyond reason. Especially when nine times out of ten, that employer won't be there himself 'cause he's the boss and can make or break any rules he wants...or he's vacationing on some island.

Boy, has this train jumped the track. Are we sure we shouldn't just move it to the cooler?? That is where most of this discussion belongs...........

Our bank was closed all day yesterday, before the biggest part of the storm even hit. Not something that happens often here in VT.
I made of point of thanking our Pres. for doing this and showing such concern for the entire staff. We also talked about how few, if any, customers would have come in anyway. The "good will" created for employees is HUGE!!